Planet B-boy - March 2008

The Story:

Planet B-Boy goes inside the international, underground b-boy scene in Japan, France, South Korea, and the United States, as they prepare for the event of their lives! The battle of the year in Germany, the oldest and largest B-Boy event in the world. Eighteen en nations send their best crews to compete at the "World Cup of B-Boying".

Coming from vastly different cultures, what the B-Boys share above all is their willingness to sacrifice everything for B-Boying as a way of life, we see that it is their lives, we see that it is their ultimate form of self-expression and creativity.

With little chance of recognition or financial gain, the B-Boys struggle to maintain their passion and love for their art is the original essence of hip-hop in its purest form.

With compelling characters and vibrant dance sequences, PLANET B-BOY is set in the International world of b-boying – the urban dance more commonly known as “breakdancing.” Weaving between the vivid backdrops of Osaka, Paris, Seoul and Las Vegas, spectacular choreography frames the intimate stories of dancers who struggle for their dreams despite being misunderstood by larger society and their own families. An American dancer in Vegas looks for his big break; a Korean son seeks his father’s approval; a twelve-year-old boy in France confronts his family’s racism – all the b-boys’ lives collide in Germany where their skills are put to the ultimate test: the “Battle of the Year” finals, with crews from 18 nations vying for the title of World Champion.

Directed by Benson Lee
Produced by Benson Lee, Amy Lo and Alex Valente
In Theaters: March 21, 2008
Genre: Documentary

Cast:

• Knucklehead Zoo Crew

Think breakdancing died in the eighties? Think again. PLANET B-BOY is a feature-length, theatrical documentary that re-discovers one of the most incredible dance phenomena the world has ever seen. Originally known as "B-boying", breakdancing was an urban dance form that originated from the streets of New York City during the seventies. Along with Emceeing, Graffiti and DJing, B-boying served as one of the crucial elements in the birth of hip-hop culture in America. Through the help of movies like Flashdance, Breakin', and Beatstreet, breakdancing took the country by storm, and teenagers across America were spinning on their backs doing "windmills" and training their bodies to "pop and lock." Like most dance fads, however, breakdancing eventually faded into the annals of pop culture history. Three decades later, B-boying is back in full force and has evolved into an art form, reaching a level never seen before. The basic moves from the early eighties have developed into a highly sophisticated and unimaginably acrobatic dance form. PLANET B-BOY will take you inside the international, underground b-boy scene happening today in Japan, France, Germany, South Korea, and the United States. We will explore the most compelling stories and characters of five of the best b-boy crews from around the globe as they prepare to face off at the BATTLE OF THE YEAR - one of the most prestigious b-boy events in the world, held annually in Germany that serves as the World Cup of b-boying. Along the way, we will gain a poignant insight into their lives, their friends and families, and their unique cultural and social situations that drive them to devote their entire lives to the dance. At the BATTLE OF THE YEAR - our subjects will go head to head with crews from nineteen different countries in one of the fiercest dance competitions ever seen. Ten thousand screaming fans will witness their one shot at glory and see who will be crowned the best on PLANET B-BOY.